Neri & Hu Creates ‘Stair of Encounters’ Inside Bloomberg’s HK Office

Bauman, as one of the most influential sociologists in Europe, coined the term “liquid modernity,” which refers to the present state of our society and its transformation of all aspects of life at an unprecedented rate – love, work, society, politics, and power. He has covered a wide spectrum of topics from intimacy to globalization, consumerism to community, and so on. And of course, this has to do with interaction and how it is changed.

Occupying a typical skyscraper tower in central Hong Kong, Neri & Hu has completed the design for an internal office staircase of the Bloomberg office and through enhancing this central circulation space, this vertical connection aims to encourage employee interaction.

As part of the brief, Neri & Hu was requested to respond to the context of Hong Kong to establish a link to the city. The existing spiral staircase was sculpturally iconic but the geometry was not supporting for the high volume of movement, but also because of the reduced interaction flow, since it lead to the exact same place by the exact same path.

Rising at three levels, the new staircase integrates elements of platforms, landings, built-in seating and strategic window framing. With each of the three levels created with different functions to accommodate a diverse set of vertical programs. Expressed as a wooden box insertion, the staircase massing actively denies the view to victoria harbor and instead, focuses on framing activity within the office.

Lastly, on the top 27th floor, the staircase opens up and is reduced further in scale, punctuated with larger openings and clear glass to provide expansive views. A cantilevered viewing podium is designed as part of the auditorium break-out space to provide dramatic views down the multiple levels and the journey ends in a lounge space.